HEXHAM’S biggest ever Regatta was a roaring success at the weekend. And in this, their 130th anniversary year, Hexham Rowing Club’s success was crowned when a home crew won the women’s novice coxed quad sculls event.

This crew is something of a family affair for it comprises Jane Upstill-Goddard, her two daughters Rosie and Ellie, and friend Diane Rodgers.

They beat three crews, from Tees and Sunderland, to claim the title.

Late in the evening, when all the visiting crews had left, winning cox Gemma Mills was ceremoniously thrown into the River Tyne.

Just 13-year-old, Gemma went in and came out grinning from ear to ear.

This year’s event was a record breaker with 404 rowing and sculling crews entered, which is the highest ever figure and should put Hexham in the top five single-day rowing events in the UK this year.

“This regatta is a huge success story for the North East,” said Hexham Rowing Club captain George Doody.

“We are successfully punching well above our weight.”

Races were run every two minutes in the glorious sunshine on Tyne Green, Hexham.

To accommodate all 289 races most had to start before the crews competing in the previous race had reached the end of the 700m course.

Officials had given special permission for this to happen and the race schedule ran from 8.30am to just after 7pm.

Crews came from all the major rowing clubs in the North East and from as far afield as Dumfries & Galloway, Littleborough (Lancashire), Maidstone, Berwick and Sunderland.

Races were held in almost all junior and adult categories, for both rowing (each crew member has one oar) and sculling (done with two oars, or blades).

Many rowing eights, fours and pairs competed, as well as single scullers, doubles and sculling quads.

“Ours is a regatta run by competitors for competitors,” said regatta secretary Peter Hoare. “We’re the friendliest in the North East – if not the whole of the UK.”

The event is also open to the general public and this year more turned out than ever before to enjoy the dramas on the river and the additional entertainment on Tyne Green, which included many stalls, free massages and the Tynedale Community Choir singing songs especially composed for the event.

One of the secrets of Hexham Regatta’s popularity is Tyne Green itself.

Hexham has one of the most picturesque rowing courses in the country and spectators can see the whole of the 700m course from most points on the bank – not to mention the iconic Hexham Bridge.

Around 80 people ran the event, which is more than Hexham Rowing Club’s current membership!

Friends, family members and help from other rowing clubs across the North East all pitched in.